Astros beat Angels to take outright lead in AL West

McCullers' gemhelps regaindivision leadfrom L.A. rivals

Even as the youngest starting pitcher in the majors at 21, the Astros' Lance McCullers Jr. didn't find the situation too big for him Wednesday night. He allowed the formidable Angels lineup one run on five hits over seven innings at Minute Maid Park. less

Even as the youngest starting pitcher in the majors at 21, the Astros' Lance McCullers Jr. didn't find the situation too big for him Wednesday night. He allowed the formidable Angels lineup one run on five hits ... more

Photo: Melissa Phillip, Staff

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Houston Astros Preston Tucker celebrates with third base coach Gary Pettis as he rounds third base on his home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the sixth inning at Minute Maid Park Wednesday, July 29, 2015, in Houston. ( Melissa Phillip / Houston Chronicle ) less

Houston Astros Preston Tucker celebrates with third base coach Gary Pettis as he rounds third base on his home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the sixth inning at Minute Maid Park Wednesday, July 29, ... more

Photo: Melissa Phillip, Staff

Image 3 of 5

Even as the youngest starting pitcher in the majors at 21, the Astros' Lance McCullers Jr. didn't find the situation too big for him Wednesday night. He allowed the formidable Angels lineup one run on five hits over seven innings at Minute Maid Park. less

Even as the youngest starting pitcher in the majors at 21, the Astros' Lance McCullers Jr. didn't find the situation too big for him Wednesday night. He allowed the formidable Angels lineup one run on five hits ... more

Photo: Melissa Phillip, Staff

Image 4 of 5

Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers, center, waves for a new ball after Los Angeles Angels Conor Gillaspie (22) stand on third base after hitting a triple during the second inning at Minute Maid Park Wednesday, July 29, 2015, in Houston. Angels third base coach Gary DiSarcina is shown left and Astros third baseman Luis Valbuena shown right. ( Melissa Phillip / Houston Chronicle ) less

Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers, center, waves for a new ball after Los Angeles Angels Conor Gillaspie (22) stand on third base after hitting a triple during the second inning at Minute Maid Park ... more

The greatest theater was elsewhere Wednesday night during the Astros' 6-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels. The Texas Rangers finally landed Cole Hamels in a blockbuster eight-player deal with Philadelphia, according to reports, and the Astros might face him next week.

Around the same time, a wild scene played out in New York. Milwaukee and the Mets had a trade that was going to bring outfielder Carlos Gomez to the Mets, but the deal was called off. This, after a player who was said to be involved in that ill-fated trade, the Mets' Wilmer Flores, cried during the game because of reports of the deal.

The scene at Minute Maid was calmer. Of course, the Astros may not be done dealing, and manager A.J. Hinch was asked before his team took a second straight game from the Angels just whom his team was targeting.

It was a tongue-in-cheek question, because trade talks are rarely put forth in such a public setting.

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Astros update

Wednesday: Astros 6, Angels 3. Record: 57-45.

Today: L.A. Angels at Minute Maid Park, 7:10 p.m.

Pitchers: Scott Kazmir (6-5) vs. Matt Shoemaker (5-7).

TV/radio: Root; 790 AM and 1010 AM (Spanish).

Inside: Astros eye Padres pitchers in talks. Page C4

AL West standings

W L Pct. GB

Houston 57 45 .559 -

L.A. Angels 55 45 .550 1

Texas 48 52 .480 8

Seattle 46 56 .451 11

Oakland* 45 56 .446 11.5

* Wednesday's late game not included

Hinch's answer, however, was quite serious: the Angels.

Bull's-eye.

There is no more important target, and the Astros (57-45) are hitting it, regardless of the transaction wire.

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The Astros reclaimed first place Wednesday night on a national telecast and could sweep the Angels (55-45) out of town Thursday, when the one big trade acquisition the Astros already have made, Scott Kazmir, is set for his first home start at Minute Maid Park.

"Tomorrow's going to be the big one," catcher Hank Conger said, referring to the swing in the standings in the rubber match.

"These games are worth I don't know how much more than a normal game, but they're worth a lot," Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said before the start of the series. "This is the team that we need to beat if we want to win this division."

Lance McCullers Jr., the youngest starting pitcher in the majors at 21, allowed one earned run on five hits in seven innings, striking out seven and otherwise shutting down the Angels, who are still without the injured Mike Trout. The Angels added two new players, David DeJesus and David Murphy, to the lineup after trades Tuesday, but they weren't much help, combining to go 1-for-8 with three strikeouts.

"He was pounding the zone," Conger said of McCullers. "I think the biggest key was him just focusing really on my body and not trying to be too fine. … I thought his changeup was outstanding."

Wednesday was the third time in McCullers' 13 career starts that he didn't allow a walk. If the righthander, who has a 2.48 ERA, keeps pitching this way, the American League Rookie of the Year race could come down to a pair of Astros: McCullers and shortstop Carlos Correa.

McCullers said he wasn't thinking about the honor.

Angels righthander Garrett Richards entered with a lifetime 1.80 ERA in 20 innings at Minute Maid Park, but he was bitten twice by the long ball, and it's hard to fault him, considering this Astros team goes yard more than anyone else.

But Richards only wanted to fault himself.

"I have to be better. Bottom line," Richards told Angels reporters. "I'm not going to give them any credit. I have to be better."

A pair of Richards pitches were pulled into the Astros' bullpen: Preston Tucker drilled a breaking ball for his 10th homer of the season in the sixth inning, and Jon Singleton knocked his first of the year in the seventh.

"I think this was the most fastballs I've ever seen him throw in a start," said Conger, a former Angels catcher. "So I think that kind of threw us off-guard a little. … He has probably the best slider in the game. But we did a pretty good job as far as battling and really just hunting the heater on him."

Tucker is the sixth Astro to reach double-digit home runs this season, and two more are just one away: Jose Altuve and Correa.

"I think the most impressive part of that is how deep we do go with that kind of power," Hinch said. "We don't have a bunch of home runs that are solidified just in the middle of our order. We've got guys at the bottom that are equally threatening when it comes to hitting a home run."

Down 1-0 since in the second inning, the Astros scored twice in the fifth to pull ahead for good. Luis Valbuena had a leadoff double and scored two batters later on Colby Rasmus' sacrifice fly. Valbuena crossed the plate less than gracefully with a barrel roll to tie the game at 1.

The go-ahead hit later in the inning was a light one from Altuve. With two out and two in scoring position, he pulled a low-and-away pitch to third, where it was stopped with a dive left by Conor Gillaspie. Gillaspie couldn't glove it, though, and had no play as Conger scored.

Whatever magic elixir the Astros found over the All-Star break - it might just be called rest - they need more. They are 8-3 since play resumed and have outscored opponents 58-33.